Development of a novel dual-functional lateral-flow sensor for on-site detection of small molecule analytes

Recently, more sensitive methods for analyzing small molecule analytes were required. Lateral-flow sensors (LFSs) have been used as reliable, rapid and cost-effective on-site screening technique to detect small molecule analytes. However, available LFSs for small molecule analytes were competitive and performed in turn-off mode, allowing low-sensitivity detection by the naked eye. In this study, we used dual-functional LFSs for monitoring small molecule analytes (clenbuterol CL), which based a fluorescence-quenching effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The most important feature of this sensor is its dual function as turn-on LFSs under excitation light and turn-off LFSs under natural light. The sensitivity of turn-on LFSs reached 0.04 ng/m under excitation light; however, under natural light they performed as common turn-off AuNPs LFSs with 5.0 ng/mL sensitivity. This novel LFS can be used in either traditional or highly sensitive tools to detect a variety of small analytes. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.